Frictional holding means for windows



March 23, 1954 P. GIORDANO FRICTIONAL HOLDING MEANS FOR wmoows FiledFeb. 25. 1950 Patented Mar. 23, 1954 FRICTIONAL HOLDING MEANS FORWINDOWS Pasquale Giordano, Marblehealil, Mass. Application February 25,1950, Serial No. 146,242

My present invention relates to window structures and to frictionalholding means for the sections thereof.

In recent years, many different window structures have been proposedinvolving sliding sections, but no improvements have been made in theslidable connection between the window or screensections and theirsupporting means and in the locking means therefor.

My present invention has for its primary objectives the provision of asupporting means slidably supporting such sections and locking means tofrictionally hold each of them in any raised or lowered position toprovide such advantages as simplification of window casing construction,ease of window installation including the installation of multiple unitscombining, for example, permanent and storm windows and window screens,to make possible the commercial acceptance of various earlier proposals.

In accordance with my invention, I provide window structure whichconsists of a pair of supports that are attached to each side of awindow casing. Each support has a plurality of spaced parallel ribswhich are transversely alined with the corresponding ribs of the othersupport. Each window or screen section has its side rails provided witha rib receiving channel thereby to enable that section to be supportedby a transversely alined pair of ribs and slid upwardly or downwardlytherealong and I provide one or both side rails of each section withlocking means frictionally gripping the sides of the received rib tohold that section in any desired position.

Each such lockin means consists of a first element having a wedge and abacking jaw in engagement with one side of a rib and spaced from thewedge to provide a channel and a second element. The second element islocated in that channel and has a wedge portion in engagement with thewedge and a clamping jaw portion movable towards or away from the jaw ofthe first element as the second element is moved towards or away fromthe bottom of its channel. The elements are interconnected by ayieldable and adjustable connection urging the clamping jaw portionagainst the other side of that rib.

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown an embodiment of my inventionwhich illustrates these and other of its novel features and advantages.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a horizontal fragmentary section through one of the windowsections showing the means frictionally looking it to a frame wall.

4 Claims. (Cl. 292*342) M Fig. 2 is a section along the lines 2-2 ofFig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a section along the indicated lines 3-3 of Fig. 2.

In the illustrative embodiment of my invention shown in the drawings, Ihave shown a window casing consisting of frame sides such as the side (5to which are secured supports for such window and screen sections as aredesired for any particu lar window. As illustrative of such supports,there is shown a vertically disposed rib 24. These ribs serve toslidably support a window or screen section.

I provide each of the window and screen secw tions with means engageablewith a rib 24 to hold that section in any desired position and inaccordance with my invention, these grip the sides of ribs 24 to avoidpressure on the supports.

I have shown such means as consisting ,of a first element 4| including awedge 42 and a backing jaw 43 spaced therefrom to provide a channel 44;.The element 4| is set into a side rail so that a rib 2-4 will bereceived by the channel 44 and with the backing jaw 43 in engagementwith that rib. A second element, generally indicated at 45, includes awedge portion 46 and a jaw portion t! and is located in the channel 44with its wedge portion 4!; in engagement with the wedge 42 of the firstelement 4! so that as the second element is moved towards or away fromthe bot tom of the channel (i4, its jaw portion 41 is moved towards oraway from the other side of that rib 24.

I have shown the second element 45 as having a bore 48, mid way of itsends, threaded to receive the stem 49 which passes freely through thefirst element 4| at the bottom of its channel 44 and through the bore50' in the side rail of the section frame. At its exposed extremity, thestem 4% has a knob 5! between which and the first element 4| is a spring52 yieldably urging the second element 45 into a position in which itsjaw portion 4! is pressed against the adjacent side of the rib 24thereby to lock the section thereto. It will be appreciated that thetension of the spring 52 may be adjusted simply by rotating the stem 49to advance or back the knob 5| relative to the first element 4|.

In practice, the elements 4| and 45 are of substantial length and forthat reason, I interpose steadying springs 53 between them adjacenttheir ends. I also form the jaw 43 and the jaw portion 4'! withoutwardly tapering extremities 541 and 55, respectively, to facilitatethe entrance of a rib 24 therebetween even after adjustment of theholding means.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that holding means forvertically slidable window structures in accordance with my inventionare well adapted to meet the requirements of economy of production, easeof installation, and convenience in use.

What I therefore claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Locking means for the side rail of a window frame or the likechannelled to receive a rib by which the frame is to be slidablysupported, said means comprising a first element including a wedge and abacking jaw spaced therefrom. to provide a channel and said firstelement being adapted to be mounted in said rail with said jaw inengagement with one side of said rib, a second element in said channeland including a Wedge portion in engagement with said wedge and aclamping jaw portion movable towards or awa from the jaw of said firstelement as said second element is moved towards or away from the bottomof said channel, a stem threaded into said second element extendingfreely through the bottom of said channel and including a knob, and a,spring compressed between said knob and said first element yieldablyurging said clamping jaw portion into a rib clamping position.

2. Locking means for the side rail of a window frame or the likechannelled to receive a rib by which the frame is to be slidablysupported, said means comprising a first element including a wedge anda. backing jaw spaced therefrom to provide a channel and said firstelement. being adapted to be mounted in said rail with said jaw inengagement with one side of said rib, a second element in said channeland including a wedge. portion in engagement with said wedge and avclamping jaw portion movable towards or away from the jaw of said firstelement as said second element is moved towards or away from the bottomof said channel, and means connected to saidsecond member and movablebetween a first position in which said clamping jaw clamps said rib anda second position in which said rib is released, said means including aspring yieldably' maintaining said first position and constituting theonly opposition to movement of said means into said second position.

3. Locking means for the side rail of a window frame or the likechannelled to receive a ribby which the frame is to be slidab'lysupported, said means comprising a first element including a wedge and abacking jaw spaced therefrom to provide a channel and said first elementbeing adapted to be mounted in said rail with said jaw in engagementwith one side of said rib, a second element in said channel andincluding a wedge portion in engagement with said wedge and a clampingjaw portion movable towards or away from the jaw of said first elementas said second element is moved towards or away from the bottom of saidchannel, a: stem carried by said second element extending freely throughthe bottom of said channel and including a. knob, and a springcompressed between said knob and said, first: element yieldably urgingsaid clamping jaw portion into a rib clampingposition, the ends of said.backing jaw and of said clamping jaw portion being oppositely outwardlytapering to. facilitate the; entrance of said rib therebetween.

4. Locking means for the side rail of a win dow frame or the likechannelled to receive a rib by which the frame is to be slidablysupported, said means comprising a first element of substantial lengthincluding a wedge and a backing jaw spaced therefrom to provide achannel and said first element being adapted to be mounted in said railwith said jaw in engagement with one side of said rib, a second elementof substantial length in said channel and including a wedge portion inengagement with said wedge and a clamping jaw portion movable towards oraway from the jaw of said first element as said second element is movedtowards or: away from the bottom of said channel, a stem carried by saidsecond element intermediate its. ends. extending freely through thbottom of said, channel and including a. knob, and a spring compressedbetween said knob and said first element yieldably urging said clampingjaw portion into a, rib clamping position, and resilient means,interposed between said elements to steady the ends of said secondelement.

PASQUALE. GIORDANO.

References Cited in thefileof this. patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Glaseret. a1 Apr, 4,, 1944'

